Dennis DeMarino's Blogspot: Supporting Patients

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Supporting Patients - The Relay for Life

From 1996 to 2015, Dennis DeMarino of Cranford, New Jersey, oversaw the budget of the Woodbridge Township School District, comprised of 24 schools. Active in his community, Dennis DeMarino participates each year in the Relay for Life.

With over 4 million annual participants across more than 20 countries worldwide, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life has been raising money to fight cancer since 1985. In the 30 years since its inception, the Relay for Life has raised almost $5 billion. Although each local, overnight event has some variation, they all include a beginning Fight Back ceremony, a Survivors Lap to recognize the people who have overcome cancer and their caregivers, and a Luminaria Ceremony, which recognizes the people who lost their lives to the disease and those who are still fighting. The funds raised support five different programs, including research, accommodations, and help with recovery.

One program, Hope Lodge, provides free accommodations for cancer patients and their families. There are 31 Hope Lodges across the United States, each with private rooms and social areas in a homey environment. Another support program, Reach to Recovery, is focused on helping breast cancer patients connect with survivors who have been through the same experience. Staffed by trained volunteers, the program does not offer medical advice, but rather a chance to address the personal feelings and concerns of each individual patient.

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About Dennis DeMarino

Before joining Woodbridge Township School District in 1996, Dennis DeMarino supervised project management and procurement operations for South Plainfield, New Jersey-based Ronpak Incorporated. As a purchasing manager for the paper and plastic bag producer, he handled all product acquisitions, ranging from raw materials to industrial equipment. Dennis DeMarino helped reduce Ronpak’s operating costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars by introducing a centralized purchasing platform that optimized bulk orders and eliminated wasteful purchases.

With Woodbridge Township School District, Mr. DeMarino serves as business administrator and board secretary. He manages a $200 million budget and oversees an array of diverse functions, such as project management, payroll, insurance, purchasing, and student transportation. For 11 consecutive years, he has maintained a balanced budget for a district that serves 13,600 students at 24 public schools throughout Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. Earlier in his tenure, Dennis DeMarino directed the on-schedule and under-budget completion of an $86 million construction project that involved building renovations and additions across all of the district’s schools. He has also implemented a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system that cut $200,000 from the district’s annual phone service charges.

Mr. DeMarino has received excellent job performance reviews at all his jobs, and he is proud to say he as had 19 years with excellent reviews at the Woodbridge Township School District.

Mr. DeMarino possesses a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a master’s degree from Kean University. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and summer league softball, saltwater fishing, crabbing, skiing and taking family vacations to various states and Canada.